Aspen

Overview
Aspen [AS-​pen] is a member of the Bandits of Alberion, one of the protagonists of The Bandits of Alberion, and an influential character in Children of Devil No. 3. She is also the former princess of Kalingor, and the host of a Fragment.

In The Bandits of Alberion
Aspen is a pale, slender woman of average height. She has wide blue and purple eyes and she wears thin, metal glasses with circular frames that accentuate her eyes. In place of her hair are green, thorny vines, a result of her curse. On top of her head is her companion, Jack.

At the beginning of the story, Aspen wears a simple teal V-necked gown and a maroon headscarf to hide her vines. After joining the Bandits though, she wears a teal V-necked blouse and a knee-length black skirt, as well as teal flats. She eventually removes her headscarf too.

After the battle at Alberion with Luciel's army of resurrected soldiers, Aspen wears a violet, knee-length mesh halter neck dress and purple flats.

After her battle with Lust, Aspen's physical appearance changes drastically. Her vines are pink at the tips as a result of the fusion, and they start to flower too. Jack is now a different flower as well. Aspen's ears are also pointed, and she gains Absinthe's clear green wings. Her outfit changes back to the original teal blouse and black skirt, except she wears black flats this time and Absinthe's jacket with the Seven Sinners' crest on it.

In Children of Devil No. 3
In Jude's memories, Aspen's appearance changes drastically each fusion, save for the vine hair.

After the Ultimate Deity takes over Aspen's body, she no longer wears her glasses, which are shattered. Her eyes are dark pits, her vine hair is dark green and overgrown, and her skin is much darker. There is a large pink flower and leaves growing on top of her head, and she wears an off-shoulder robe with different patterns on each sleeve and half of the body. In the center of her collarbone are numerous intersecting pink roots that fuse with her skin.

Personality
Aspen is polite and caring individual who'd rather seek out a peaceful means of settling things instead of starting a fight over it. She's always trying to help others when she can, despite her being very quiet, and she usually is respectful and considerate to others, even enemies, but will do anything in her power and go to any length in order to protect those she loves.

Aspen is an extremely timid and shy person, barely speaking at the beginning of the story. She is constantly self-conscious of her appearance due to her curse and has a low self esteem at the beginning of the story, and as a result, wears a headscarf at all times to hide her hair. However, she eventually learns to gain more confidence in herself, occasionally interjecting and speaking her mind in an effort to gain confidence and speak more often, often embarrassing herself in the process afterwards.

In Children of Devil No. 3, Aspen's personality noticeably changes throughout Jude's memories. Jude also states she struggled with multiple personalities due to her fusion with numerous Fragments. Despite this, she was determined to reach her goal and fuse with all the Fragments in order to bring the Ultimate Deity back.

Several Years Back
When Aspen was a young child, she lived a visibly happy and posh life as a princess. However, all of this changed when she touched a mirror while playing, not aware of it being a Fragment, and as a result, she fused with it, changing her appearance. A few years, after facing backlash from her kingdom after finding out about her appearance, a young Aspen chooses to run away to the outskirts of the Red Forest, where she chooses to stay in an abandoned house near the village of Serran for several years.

Abilities and Equipment
Aspen's abilities vary constantly. Her hair is her main weapon, and although she despises her curse, she admits it gives her numerous things to do.

Aspen's abilities include:


 * Cocoon: An ability that allows Aspen to form an enclosure around her enemies. She can close this cocoon around them, until it starts to cut into them or they force to submit. At first in the story, this ability is very weak, and is easy to slash through, but gradually it gets stronger and much more difficult to cut.
 * Whip: Aspen's hair acts as a whip, gaining strength and speed with each hit, and becoming just as painful to tolerate.
 * Shred: Aspen doesn't use this ability much, but it allows her to grow the thorns on her vines to shred through enemies.